The Kinmen CityGod ReceptionParade

People living on the island of Kinmen County carry out theirtraditional festivities based on the seasons. One of the largest GodReception parades which takes place every summer on April 12th ofLunar Calendar, is the Wudao City God Parade. The parade celebratesthe vibrant energy that embodies the islands traditional customs andculture heritage. The island’s residents also embrace the event with ahigh level of enthusiasm and devotion— in the belief that City Godpatrolling the island, will bring peace to the land and protect theresidents from adversities.

The original name for Kinmen island was Wuzhou, also known asCangwu, Wujiang, Wuhai or Wudao. It was not until the MingDynasty, when fortresses and defense structures were establishedon the island to strengthen the coastal defense capacity. Kinmen’sgeo-strategic advantage obtained itself a name as a golden forcethat guards all at the gate of southern waters, which is the literal translation of the name Kinmen from Chinese (GoldenGate). Following naval defense convention of the time,City God’s Temples were subsequently built for the navalpersonnel and local residents to worship and pray. Laterin Kangxi 19th year of the Qing Dynasty (AC. 1680),Qing’s naval forces regained control of Kinmen from theNanming Regime, and established the Quemoy (KinmenTownship) Command Post and Barracks. In Kangxi21st year (AC. 1682), Commander Chenlong relocatedthe headquarers to Houpu, eventually making Houputhe administration center for his defenses, as well as animportant frontier township under combined militaryand political rules. To this day, the old quarter of Kinmentownship is called the Houpu Town which is subdividedinto four districts based on the religious belief that theCity God protects each of these districts. A District Headis designated for each district to take charge of overseeingguardian and parade duties. Since the KMT rules, oneCity God Reception Main Parade and two Minor Paraderespectively every three years. The minor parade patrolsthe four districts in Houpou on a set route, with the fourDistrict Heads—East ward, West ward, South ward,and North ward taking turns to lead the parade. Themain parade, however, lasts for three days. A kinds ofvaudevillian troupes are invited to join the parade thattours all 13 villages in Kinmen. The parade route includestraditional settlements such as Shuitou, Zhushan, Oucuo,and Guningtou, all of which are within bounds of KinmenNational Park.

• upper：The traditional Centipede Array often becomes the focus for the parade / Lin Jin-Rong

The formation of the City God Reception Parade isdivided into three teams— the vanguards, the deities, andceremonial bands. Major and minor deities, musicians,performers, City God, and his believers are all part ofthis bustling celebration. With increasing cross-straitinteractions between Mainland China and Taiwan inrecent years, there are more and more vaudevillian troupesparticipating in the parade.

During the parade and temple fair, there are a variety ofactivities which are of interest, such as the arts and culturalexhibits, folklore and local specialty product market,firsthand experience of riding the sacred palanquin andcentipede array, and traditional folk music and danceperformance, all of which help to promote tourism andlocal economy of Kinmen. Incidentally, this year is the332nd anniversary for the establishment of City God’sTemple in Haopu, and the grand opening of the 2012World Min-Nan Culture Festival on April 28th, 2012. The Festival combines Kinmen’s City God Reception Paradeand Tainan’s Zheng Cheng-Gong Cultural Fair as well asMinnan Delicacies and Classic Films Festival, showcasingKinmen’s cultural and recreational wonders. Of which, theKinmen National Park Headquarters sponsors the Min-Nan Delicacies event at Shuitou Settlement— traditionallyknown as the home for emigrants. The event aims toshowcase the diverse cultures of Kinmen’s cuisines— aprelude for the City God Reception Parade.

• upper：Bringing the whole family to make the Yige float, reflect thepilgrim’s joy in welcoming the City God Parade / Lin Jin-Rong

Profile

Lin Jin-Rong | Kinmen’s Local Historian and Writer

Local res ident of Kinmen, longt imeresearcher, photographer and writer forlocal history, recording changes in society;publications include